Things You'll Need:
- Screwdriver
- Operating system installation disc
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Step 1
Consider what capabilities you want the computer to have and what type of programs it will be running on a regular basis. Decide if you will need a high end audio card for a surround sound speaker system, an advanced graphics card for 3D applications like games, a faster processor and more RAM modules if you will have many programs open at once, or if you only need a bare bones system for simple applications such as word processing.
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Step 2
Purchase the individual computer components. Decide whether you want an Intel or AMD processor and check the documentation for it to find out what sort of socket it connects to on a motherboard. Find a corresponding motherboard that has the same socket and check it's other capabilities such as the number of drive bays and card slots that it supports. Buy a computer case that fits the dimensions of the motherboard. Check with the motherboard and processor information to find out what power supply you will need to run them and then buy one that has a voltage that does not exceed the recommended maximum.
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Step 3
Buy the RAM modules that fit your motherboard's memory slots and do not exceed it's total memory capacity. Check what type of card slots the motherboard has and buy graphics, audio, and network cards that fit that kind of slot. Purchase a DVD or CD drive and decide if you want a standard read only drive or a re-writable drive. Get a hard drive that has the amount of space you will need for the programs you will be installing. Buy the remaining input and output peripherals that you will need such as a printer, speakers, keyboard, mouse, and a monitor. Make sure that your motherboard has enough USB ports to accommodate all of the peripherals.
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Step 4
Place the computer case on it's side and remove the left side panel. Remove the case screws if it has any or instead pull back on the metal holding pin and pop the panel off if there are no screws. Locate the large gold or metal mounting screws that came with either the motherboard or the case and install them into the mounting holes on each end of the inside area of the case. Put the motherboard on the mounting screws with all of the card slots and circuitry facing towards you. Install the remaining motherboard screws to hold it in place.
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Step 5
Snap the processor down onto the socket on the motherboard and then place the heat sink and fan on top of it. Snap the holding pins onto the side to keep the fan and heat sink in place. Push the power supply into the drive bay at the top of the case and then screw in the case screws that came with it. Attach the SATA cable that came with the power supply into the power connector on the edge of the motherboard.
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Step 6
Put the CD or DVD drive into one of the other drive slots and plug its IDE cable into the corresponding port on the motherboard. Place the hard drive into a drive bay and connect it to the power supply. Push the RAM modules into the memory slots and then pop up the plastic holding pieces if there are any present.
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Step 7
Place the expansion cards into their card slots and then screw them into place. Put the side panel back on the case and then plug in the peripheral items and power cord. Turn the computer on and put the installation disc for the operating system into the DVD or CD drive. Install the operating system to finish building the computer.
